Summer Institute : MBET : Faculty

Courses in Music Business are taught by musicians and music professionals. The majority of our faculty teach in the degree programs at UArts. Our expert instructors are seasoned educators and dedicated artists who enjoy the opportunity to share their expertise and collaborate with the next generation of musicians and music professionals.

*Please note: this list reflects a selection of our 2016 Summer Institute instructors. Check back for updates about the 2017 faculty.

MICHAEL JOHNSONMusic Business Coordinator
Michael Johnson is an active performer, producer and recording engineer who currently lives and works in Philadelphia. In addition to teaching at UArts, he also heads the Music Technology department within the School of Music.

Michael has been very active in the American independent rock universe for the last decade, having been a part of releases on labels including Sub Pop, Matador, Ninja Tune and Hometapes. He has performed on or engineered albums by Kurt Vile, Daedelus, the War On Drugs, Nightlands, Lilys, Holopaw and Pattern Is Movement, as well as his current Ape School project and more. He has toured the United States and Europe extensively and shared the stage with the aforementioned artists and such rock luminaries as Dinosaur Jr, Iron and Wine, and Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) among others.

Over the years, his efforts and exploits have been featured in the likes of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork.com, CNN, Playboy Magazine, Newsweek and MTV. He currently focuses his energies on his duties at UArts, while maintaining an active performance and production schedule for his own projects and outside interests. Michael is sponsored by Eventide's audio division and is highly versed and experienced in the use of analog synthesizers.

JOHNPAUL BEATTIE
JohnPaul Beattie MB ’10 (Composition) is a classical composer specializing in MIDI orchestration. For the past several years he has been composing commercial music for the local Philadelphia production company, Juggling Wolf, owned by three UArts alums: Jason Chen BFA ’08 (Animation), Ian Foster BFA '08 (Animation) and Marina Gvozdeva BFA '08 (Animation). His personal compositions are large classical works including The Devine Comedy Symphony, 2009 and Stalingrad, a ballet performed for his senior recital in April 2010.

In addition to composing, JohnPaul is the master sound engineer for the College of Performing Arts and teaches Music Technology and Live Sound Productionfor the School of Music. As an instructor, JohnPaul puts a high emphasis on "hands-on" learning, structuring his classes so students spend as much time as possible in front of mixing boards and microphones. It is with this philosophy in mind that he created the student run "Live Sound Sessions." In these sessions, local bands are invited to UArts to perform so the students may practice how to mix the sound for a live event in a stress-free environment. Groups that have participated include the Luke Carlos O'Reilly Quartet, Steve Tripak, Package, SoHo, No Irish Need Apply, Cute Girl from English and the Justin Binek Trio.

MATT MANHIREAfter spending his formative years recording and experimenting on 4-track Portastudios, Matthew went to college to pursue a degree in music with a concentration in the recording arts. After taking physics and electronics courses, he realized his interest in the technical side of the music industry and began the “never-ending” process of learning electron-tube theory and analog audio electronics. Matthew has worked alongside and learned from Jess Oliver (inventor of the Ampeg B-15 and the first person to incorporate spring reverb into a guitar amp), Andy Fuchs (owner and engineer of Fuchs Audio Technology) and other studio techs in the NYC area. After working at various studios and a boutique tube amplifier/pedal company in the New York area, Matthew relocated to Philadelphia in 2009 to pursue a graduate degree. In 2009 Matthew opened “Rootbeer Audio”, which offers both analog/tube equipment repair and small-run amplifier building services for Philadelphia’s musicians and studios. When he’s not teaching, Matthew handles the amplifier/studio repairs for the UArts music department. Aside from his technical work and teaching, Matthew is also an active musician in both the Philadelphia and New York City areas. He’s constantly field recording, and experimenting with different instruments, processors, and homemade circuits for use in his own studio productions.

JUAN PARADA

ERIK SABOErik Sabo is a practicing entertainment attorney. He is a graduate of Syracuse University's music industry program and has been working in the industry for the past decade. Erik represents musicians at both the local and national level in everything from contract negotiations and disputes to licensing and management. Erik is also a musician who plays piano and guitar.